I Picked Up a Witch With Amnesia

4. Island Lumentium – 14

Even in the Imperial Palace, somewhere deep inside the Beecher, there is a room where Iris El Devhart, the only princess in the Empire, lives normally. In the middle of a splendid room boasting a dignity and figure that was not lacking at all for a direct member of the imperial family to reside in, Iris El Devhart was sitting on a chair with her eyes closed.

“…..”

His eyes were closed, but he was not sleeping. I had something to think about. Or, to be more precise, there was something I had to think about. I was thinking over and over again. Because you have to act carefully. No matter how careful I was, it wasn’t lacking.

In order to perfectly achieve what he set out to do, everything had to be flawless. So at this moment, she was preoccupied with her thoughts. She was given only one chance. When the prey didn’t notice anything and was off guard, it had to be done perfectly. Failure was not tolerated.

Seruk-

It was then. The air flow in the room changed instantly. Even though there were no knocks or signs of presence, Iris realized that a guest had arrived at her room. However, it wasn’t surprising. Because it was none other than Iris herself who ordered her to come here secretly without anyone being found out about her whereabouts.

“…Is it Chris?”

“…Yes, Princess. As you commanded, we have been investigating the activities of Ariel Thier, Kyrie el Denaris, and Bianca del Castana over the past two months.”

Saying that, Chris handed over several documents to Iris. Iris murmured in surprise as she took the document from Chris’ hand.

“Hmm, you came earlier than expected? I thought it would take at least a week.”

I knew that Chris’ ability was exceptional, but I didn’t think that I would find out their whereabouts in only three days.

“Those three were also on the main monitoring target in the Ministry of Information. Thanks to that, it was an easy task just to collect the accumulated data.”

“Oh, were they included in the Empire’s main surveillance target?”

Heck, there was no need to discuss 10 years later. Even at this point in time, all of them are women with extraordinary powers. The intelligence department, which is suffering from paranoia of having to gather all the information of the empire, must have been paying attention to them.

“…the tail?”

“I used the secret route. I put it on express, so no one will be able to see it. As long as His Majesty doesn’t directly check it, I’m confident that it’s safe.”

“good night. Good work, Chris.”

Iris nodded, very satisfied with Chris’ clean job.

“…It’s overrated.”

Even under Iris’ congratulations, Chris only lowered his head as if he was happy, but did not show any sign of great joy. She is the sword of the princess. It was only natural for her to do what she told her to do. The princess’s congratulations thought that he was undeserved of it.

“Hmm…”

Iris flipped through the first page of the document. The first page contained a record of the last two months of the world tree’s guardian, Kyrie el Denaris.

“…During the past two months, Kyrie el Denaris hasn’t left the World Tree even once?”

“Yes. According to the eyewitness accounts of merchants who are allowed to interact with the elves, she is faithfully fulfilling her role as a guardian. In fact, even the intelligence department has not confirmed that the surveillance target came from the territory of the elves.”

“…That’s true. You are a woman who has no place to be frustrated. Well, that’s what I like, though.”

Iris looked at Kyrie’s whereabouts and involuntarily smiled bitterly. He thought that he was not very flexible, but Kyrie seemed to be a bit more savvy than he was. Is it because he has lived so long that he cannot change his way of life now, or is he simply ignoring what state he is in? If that isn’t-

“…Well, I guess I won’t have to worry about that woman for a while.”

Iris shook her head and turned the paper over. The person written on the next page contained enough power to make Iris’s mood drop in an instant.

“…Ariel Thiers.”

Iris frowned as she recalled the woman’s face. Iris didn’t like her at all. No, to be precise, he didn’t like all the girls in the expedition, but Ariel Thiers was uniquely unlikable.

There was no reason. She was a harmless woman who always smiled and never quarreled with others, but for some reason I didn’t like her. Maybe that was the reason for that relaxed expression without any distraction. This was purely the realm of speculation, but the girl Ariel seemed to look down on the others in the expedition as below her. Really, she was a bad bitch. I thought to myself that such a girl would be called a ‘saint’ in the world, that it was no different from a comical skit.

Iris swallowed the rising displeasure and calmly read the words written in the document.

“…About two months ago, people acted as if they had suddenly changed?”

“Yes. It is said that from one day on, he showed signs of not being able to control his emotions. And after about a week of praying alone, refusing contact with others, he suddenly strongly hoped to be dispatched to a temple in Jedo.”

“…Hmm”

Indeed, it was no coincidence that they met at the banquet hall. The girl must have attended the banquet with a clear purpose. The purpose was so blatant that it only made me laugh.

Yeah, wouldn’t it be fun to come out here? Competition must be fierce to increase the value of the product at stake. Stealing prey by overtaking ignorant vultures is a despicable act on par with hyenas. It is neither elegant nor classy.

Destroy everything that stands in your way from the front and win the victory with confidence. That was the philosophy of a woman named Iris El Devhart.

However, at the same time, it was only up to that point.

‘Chi Shi. really.’

It’s funny. Was it a coincidence that I came up with this after struggling for days and days and met face-to-face at a banquet hall? It was too cute a trick to be called a ruse devised by the sinister woman. Or should I say arrogant? The race hadn’t even started yet, but Ariel’s behavior, which was already pretending to be a winner, was considered ridiculous.

Iris smiled involuntarily and put her mind down. One woman didn’t even make it to the starting line, and the other woman was below expectations. It seems that a fierce battle full of urgency won’t happen.

Iris turned the document to the next page with a much improved expression. And, as soon as I read the text on the next page, my face hardened.

“…Kris.”

“Yes, lower.”

“Is what is written here really true?”

“…Which part are you talking about?”

“The fact that Bianca del Castana visited the Black Tower.”

Black Tower.

A group formed by a group of schools specializing in black magic among magic. When you hear the word ‘black magic’, you might think that it is an evil magic that deals with forbidden learning for some reason, but outside of your imagination, they belong to the normal category. It’s just that ordinary people look down on it because the magic it handles is different from normal magic. After all, black magic was just one type of science called magic.

And Bianca del Castana is also one of the wizards. One might ask if it was anything special for a wizard to visit the ‘Tower’ to study magic, but Iris instinctively realized that this was a harbinger of something unusual.

This is because the field covered by the study of black magic was human itself. For example, life and death, or the work of the soul.

…Or, human memories.

“…..”

What is the purpose of Bianca del Castana? Did he visit the Black Tower simply because he was curious about magic? Or did he visit the place with a different purpose? If not, did he visit the Black Tower because he had a big change of heart over the past two months?

I don’t know why, but it’s dangerous. That was the conclusion Iris came to. The sixth sense she had honed was sounding an alarm. If left alone, it was clear that something would happen.

“Kris.”

“Yes, lower.”

“Get ready. I will personally visit the Black Tower. This is an informal visit, so please do not leave any traces.”

“…When are you planning to leave?”

To Chris’ question, Iris answered in a natural tone.

“Right Now.”

****

After the banquet at the imperial palace, which had a lot of talk and trouble, all the official schedules in the Estel family system were finally over. In other words, the time had finally arrived to leave this damn city and go home.

“…Finally leaving Lumentium and heading home.”

As I watched the attendants load the wagon, I unknowingly let out a lamentation. It was finally over. After arriving in Jedo, I only pictured the day I would return home, but I never even imagined that this day would come. In terms of experience, it felt like I had stayed in the system for about a year.

That said, it is not enough to say that what I have been through in the past few days has been eventful indeed. No, to put it bluntly, I felt like my lifespan had shrunk by about 10 years. There have been so many surprises in the last few days that now it seems like I have a strong heart that I can laugh at pretty much anything. Of course, it wasn’t a happy thing at all.

However, this is the end. If I left this system, nothing would disturb my peaceful life anymore. This time, I firmly resolved in my heart that I would live a leisurely life in the Duchy of Estel.

“…The next time you come here is after your father passed away.”

If my father dies, I will have to visit this place to swear a fiefdom to the emperor. If possible, let’s pray that our father will live long and prosperous.

But that was the time.

Poo-!

Someone hit me hard on the back of the head. Seeing the stars flickering in front of my eyes momentarily, it was a blow full of emotion.

“That’s true, you can’t be a man who is unfilial. Were you praying to the sky that this father would die soon? Or did you really want the Duke’s throne?”

“…not like that.”

“If not, what does that mean? Did it contain a profound meaning that I could not understand?”

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My father laughs at my excuses. The words I just said were uttered in the sense that, like before the return, my father died early, so I wouldn’t have to visit the island again.

However, if I had to explain it, I would have to explain that I was a regressor who had gone back 10 years, so I couldn’t open my mouth hastily. In the end, what I chose was to close my mouth like a clam.

As I let out a sigh that comes from the depths of my heart, my father looks at me pitifully, unaware of my speed.

“…Well, we’ll talk about how unfilial you are later. I don’t think now is the time for that.”

“Why?”

“A guest has arrived. They said they came looking for you.”

…me? who? I’m not proud of it, but I’m not a person with very wide feet, so not many people come to visit me personally. Among the people living in the system, those who come to visit me are even rarer.

As I tilted my head like that, my father spoke to me in a very different, serious tone.

“By the way, I have already accepted the guest’s suggestion. But I told you that the final decision is left to you. Cain, you decide on your own.”

Saying that, the father gestured to the ‘guest’ who was hesitant from the other side. It was a signal to come here. At the same time, my father moved away. It was a consideration for the two of them to talk comfortably.

“…Cain von Estel, long time no see.”

The ‘guest’ my father spoke of was a truly unexpected guest, far beyond my expectations.

“Lucian? Lucian von Tournisen?”

The identity of the guest was Lucian, who was defeated by me after fighting a duel with me a few days ago in the banquet hall.

“…what the hell are you doing? Do you have something to do with me?”

Wasn’t the remnant between me and Lucian clearly resolved through that duel? This guy doesn’t seem to have a personality that seems to have a back end either. Could it be that you came to see me for another duel?

“Cain von Estel. I have come with a request from you.”

“What?”

To hear the word ‘please’ come out of the mouth of the young boy of the Duke of Tournigen.

However, the request that came out of Lucian’s mouth was of a kind far beyond my imagination.

“I also want to leave for the Estel duchy with you. Will you allow me to become a knight for the Duke of Estelle?”